Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have withdrawn from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area and are redeploying units toward Aden, marking a major setback for a six-week counteroffensive against the Houthis and raising risks for one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The Southern Armed Forces announced that units were being moved from Dubab airport and the Bab el-Mandeb area west of Yemen’s Taiz province, according to a Vesti Baku report.
The command said the redeployment was needed to protect Aden - the interim capital of Yemen’s internationally recognized government - and neighboring provinces, while reinforcing other sections of the front.
Houthis Increase Pressure on Aden
Government units withdrew to the Al-Suqiya area, about 150 kilometers west of Aden. Military sources said the forces would continue efforts to push the Houthis away from the nearby coast.
The retreat increases the risk of a further Houthi advance toward Aden. In mountainous areas, Houthi forces have moved close to the Tur al-Bahah district, roughly 80 kilometers from the city.
Neither the Houthis nor Saudi Arabia immediately commented on the redeployment. The Houthis seized a significant stretch of the Red Sea coast in September, and a government counteroffensive launched the following month failed to fully dislodge them from the strait area.
Risks to Red Sea Trade
Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and lies on the maritime route between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. A stronger Houthi position near the strait could increase threats to commercial shipping and energy supplies.
The risks are rising amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneous pressure on the two key maritime routes could complicate oil exports from Gulf countries.
The fighting is also worsening the humanitarian situation around Taiz. The city and surrounding areas are hosting about half of the 300,000 people displaced by the latest escalation. Aid deliveries are being disrupted, while civilians have limited options for leaving the area.